Congratulations on publishing Daniel Furmedge's telling short paper.1 Full marks for his insight and interpretation. He reminded me of my first Claire Wand Fund Prize on ‘Postgraduate education for the newly qualified doctor in preparation for entry into general practice.’
That was more than half a century ago. Returning from my 6-year sabbatical in the Army, I was seriously worried that none of my clinical teachers had any personal experience of general practice, and that no mention of the subject was made.
The stigma was real, enormously encouraged by the arrogance of Lord Moran, who had publicly declared that the GP was ‘the doctor who had fallen off the ladder of success.’
On one point I disagree with Daniel Furmedge. The GP is essentially a generalist — not a specialist. The specialist is the one who has chosen to wear Lord Moran's blinkers.
REFERENCE
- 1.Furmedge D. General practice stigma at medical school and beyond — do we need to take action? Br J Gen Pract. 2008;58(553):581. doi: 10.3399/bjgp08X319774. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]